East Side, West Side

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Carol B I love old movies and this is a hidden gem. Barbara Stanwyck gives a very realistic portrayal of a wealthy well bred lady whose sleezy husband, played by James Mason is cheating on her, with wait for this, the beautiful Ava Gardner, who plays a harden playgirl! Cyd Charise is very sweet in her supporting role, as is our former First Lady, Nancy Davis, Mrs. Ronald Reagan. There is a murder, and a classic who did it evolves into a drama.I like this movie, and where else will you see such Star Power? I highly recommend. Thank you. carolintallahassee Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, James Mason, Van Heflin, and Cyd Charisse. That's reason enough to watch. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review s r A complicated love drama with multiple love triangles getting in the way. Beautiful cast and they all did well. A hidden gem. Saw it on TCM. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The main theme of this movie is one that has played out so many times in movies and books (and life): a man (James Mason) cheats on his wife (Barbara Stanwyck) with a woman (Ava Gardner) who gives him the thrills she cannot. The affair was over, but now she's back. He resists, but she points out that fireworks are not something to be taken lightly: "Maybe it wasn't love, maybe it was only chemistry, or the right combination, or a miracle. But most people drag through their whole lives without finding it. We both know that, don't we Bran?" And when he tells her he doesn't want to see her again, she purrs the sexy double entendre "I'll do exactly what you want Bran, exactly what you want." Gardner is just brilliant, oozing raw desire and channeling Jean Harlow in "The Red-Headed Woman" when she later gets slapped by Mason. Instead of being hurt, she eggs him on, knowing his passion is rising, and knows "that's what you're missing at home", and "you want to be rotten like me." Stanwyck plays the virtuous wife with quiet grace, though I thought she was too reserved in a showdown scene with the outlandishly mean Gardner. It's always great to see her movies though, and she does play 'hurt' and 'conflicted' well. There is a lot of star power here, with Cyd Charisse and Van Heflin also in the cast, and even an appearance from Nancy Davis, who of course would later be Nancy Reagan. As Stanwyck is betrayed by Mason, she turns to Heflin, and it's quite clear they're mutually attracted. Heflin is so smooth and likeable, and there is dignity in his acknowledgment of his love for her without resorting to adultery, in direct contrast to Gardner and Mason. Mason and Stanwyck may have gotten top billing, but I think they were upstaged by Heflin and Gardner. As the pressure ratchets up, both Mason and Stanwyck find themselves needing to make choices, though Mason's is disrupted by an event I won't spoil. There are some events that might be too convenient as it plays out, but there is reality and passion here, and I enjoyed this film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A very good drama noir great actors and actresses make this movie enjoyable. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Stanwyck and Gardner duke it out over James Mason--Any side of the town is good, for revenge!! Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

East Side, West Side

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